Nature and creativity meet in kid-friendly terrariums

June 26, 2012|By Deborah Filipek, Special to Tribune Newspapers

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Terrariums have been popular with adults since Victorian times. But Katy Maslow and Michelle Inciarrano, authors of "Tiny World Terrariums" (Stewart, Tabori & Chang), make a case for younger enthusiasts too.

The pair own Brooklyn, N.Y.-based Twig Terrariums (twigterrariums.com), and their enclosed gardens range from sophisticated to silly, with dinosaurs, unicorns and an array of other figurines telling enchanting stories in mossy tableaux. Their wonderful book provides detailed instructions to guide you through the process.

They have led many workshops with children, and agree that terrariums make a perfect introduction to the larger worlds of nature and imagination. There's nothing quite like watching a kid realize what's inside that "weird jar of dirt," they say: rocks, plants or moss providing a backdrop for scenes populated by tiny figurines.

"Once a child sees the tiny plants growing, or notices the way some moss looks like big, happy hills while another looks like grass, they are compelled to take a closer look into the tiny natural world before them," Inciarrano said. "They want to be little botanists, observing and nurturing this itty-bitty landscape."

"Making a terrarium can provide children, especially urban kids, a space in which to appreciate and interact with nature," Maslow added. "It instills in the young one a sense of responsibility for this new world of theirs: They must nurture the nature, (and) it becomes second nature — pun intended! — to care for something."

Designing a terrarium also is a form of artistic expression that adds another layer to the learning, because it "requires a few important elements: patience, foresight and vision," said Maslow. "One must have a vision of the final product and know that the shape, texture and color of the moss or plants may dictate the 'miniscaping.'"

Best of all, building a terrarium does not have to be expensive, Inciarrano added: "If you have an old pickle jar in the house, clean it out! Moss in the backyard? Scoop it up."

A few tips from "Tiny World Terrariums." All of the supplies can be found in craft stores, garden centers and online retailers:

--Choose glass containers with wide openings for sun-loving houseplants or succulents, and containers with closed or narrow openings for plants such as moss or ferns that prefer a low-light environment. (And remember, you'll need to attend to the growing needs of the plants you use.)

--A layer of clean rocks and pebbles on the bottom of the container will provide drainage and aeration.

--Low-quality dried moss or charcoal placed over the rocks provides filtration. Top that with a good non-moisture-control potting mix or a plant-specific potting mix.

--The fun part! Add plants with the same growing needs, decorative moss, pretty rocks and figurines less than 3 inches high. Beach glass and other items can be added, but make sure they're waterproof. If not, apply a spray-on sealant ahead of time.

We also found many articles on terrarium building at Garden Design magazine's website: Go to gardendesign.com, and type "terrarium" in the search field.